DE102020128751B3 - Button assembly, method for assembling a button assembly and steering column arm for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a button assembly (1) and a drop arm (2). The button assembly (1) comprises: a button (4) with a pin receptacle (8); a carrier (24) with a carrier element (25) which can be reversibly clamped in a non-destructive manner and on which a peg element (26) corresponding to the peg receptacle is arranged; a frame (5) which encompasses the carrier (24) and has a button opening (35). The button (4) is arranged in the button opening (35) and fastened to the carrier (24) by the pin element (26) being snapped into the pin receptacle (8) in a final assembly position. According to the invention, the frame (5) can be slid onto the carrier (24) in a pre-assembly direction (21) for pre-assembly, while the button (4) is held in the button opening (35) and, in order to reach the final assembly position, in a final assembly direction (31 ) is movable, wherein a carrier-side mounting bevel (28) is arranged on the carrier element (25), which is set up for pre-assembling the pushbutton assembly (1) while tensioning the carrier element (25) along the pre-assembly direction (21) on an inner surface ( 19, 19a) of the button (4) held on the frame (5). The invention also relates to a method for assembling the button assembly (1).

Description

A first aspect of the invention relates to a button assembly. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of assembling a button assembly. A third aspect of the invention relates to a drop arm for a motor vehicle.

From the state of the art, in particular from series vehicle construction, a drop arm a is known, as shown in 12 is shown. 12 shows a perspective view of the steering column arm a designed according to the prior art, with a conventional button b being installed in a conventional manner. For this purpose, the conventional steering column arm a has a button opening c, the conventional button b being inserted into the button opening c along a mounting direction d. Here, carrier elements e of the drop arm a are clamped towards one another. For this purpose, the conventional support elements e and/or the conventional button b have/have a mounting bevel (not shown). When the mounting bevels of the support elements e slide off on an inside of the pushbutton b and/or when the mounting bevels of the pushbutton b slide off on the support elements e, the support elements e are clamped towards one another. If the button b is pressed further into the drop arm a or through the button opening c, the carrier elements e relax when a fastening element (in 12 not visible) of the carrier elements e engage in a fastening element receptacle f of the button b. Due to the conventional assembly bevels, holding surfaces of the steering column arm a, for example a holding surface g of the button b, are particularly small, so that only a particularly small amount of force is required to undesirably, for example accidentally, separate the button b from the rest of the steering column arm a. Especially if the button b is designed as a rocker switch, particularly high forces can occur on the holding surfaces g, which then, in combination with the particularly small holding surfaces, lead to the button b being unintentionally released from the steering column arm a. This means that the conventional steering column arm a is not particularly stable.

Furthermore, with this conventional drop arm a, a gap is formed between the button b and the button opening c, which means that there is a risk that objects that are small enough, dirt, etc., get through the gap into the interior of the drop arm a . On the other hand, an electrostatic discharge can occur through the gap between an operator's body, for example a finger, and an electronic device (not shown) arranged inside the steering column arm a. Such an electrostatic discharge poses the risk that the electronic device will be damaged. As a result, the conventional pitman arm a is particularly prone to failure.

It is the object of the invention to provide a particularly reliable steering column arm that is easy to assemble.

This object is achieved by a button assembly for a steering column arm, a method for installing such a button assembly and a steering column arm for a motor vehicle according to the independent claims.

Features, advantages and advantageous configurations of the button assembly according to the invention are to be regarded as features, advantages and advantageous configurations of the drop arm according to the invention and vice versa. Features, advantages and advantageous configurations of the button assembly according to the invention and/or the steering column arm according to the invention presented in connection with the method apply to the button assembly according to the invention and/or to the steering column arm according to the invention.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a button assembly for a drop arm. In this case, the button assembly has a button. The button has a pin receptacle that corresponds to a pin element that will be described in more detail below. The button assembly also has a carrier, the carrier having a non-destructive, reversibly tensionable carrier element. The spigot element is arranged on the tensionable support element, with the spigot element and the spigot receptacle corresponding to one another. An outer peripheral surface of the spigot element and an inner peripheral surface of the spigot receptacle directly adjoin one another when the button assembly is in a mounted state. The spigot element and the spigot receptacle can each have a shape that differs from a right circular cylinder.

The button assembly further includes a frame disposed on the carrier. A button opening is formed in the frame, the button opening corresponding to an outer shape of the button. This means that one wall of the frame is completely penetrated by the button hole. The button opening delimits a material-free area of the frame. When the button assembly is assembled, the frame at least partially encompasses the carrier.

The button of the button assembly has an actuation portion and a mounting portion. The actuation portion and the attachment portion are integrally connected to each other. In other words, the button is formed by the actuation portion and the attachment portion. In the button assembly, the button is arranged in the button opening. This means that the button extends through the button opening. On an outer side of the frame, the pushbutton with the actuation part protrudes beyond an outer surface of the frame, wherein the pushbutton on an inner side of the frame with the fastening part protrudes beyond an inner surface of the frame. The outer surface and the inner surface of the frame are opposed to each other, with the probe opening penetrating the frame completely and through the outer surface as well as through the inner surface.

The stylus and the carrier are attached to one another in a final assembly position of the stylus assembly by the spigot element being snapped into the spigot socket, so that the spigot element and the spigot socket are arranged coaxially. In other words, in the latched state, a longitudinal center axis of the pin element and a longitudinal center axis of the pin receptacle coincide. In this way, in particular, a fastening device is formed between the carrier and the button, the carrier and the button being connected to one another via the fastening device. Consequently, the carrier and the button are fastened to one another by means of the fastening device.

In order to design the button assembly such that a steering column arm having the button assembly is particularly reliable and easy to assemble, the first aspect of the invention provides that the frame for preassembly can be pushed onto the carrier in a preassembly direction. The button is held in the button opening. In other words, the button is held on the frame during preassembly, for example by the button extending through the button opening. Furthermore, the button can be moved in a final assembly direction to reach the final assembly position. This means that the button and the carrier can be moved towards one another so that the spigot element snaps into the spigot socket. The button and the carrier can be moved toward one another along the final assembly direction. The pre-assembly direction is different from the final assembly direction. In particular, the pre-assembly direction and the final assembly direction are perpendicular to one another. Consequently, the final assembly direction is perpendicular to the pre-assembly direction and vice versa.

Furthermore, it is provided that a mounting bevel on the carrier side is arranged on the carrier element. The carrier-side mounting bevel is set up to slide along the pre-assembly direction on an inner surface of the button for the purpose of pre-assembling the button assembly while tensioning the carrier element. The carrier has been inserted into the frame along the pre-assembly direction so that the frame encloses the carrier in the fully assembled button assembly. In the case of the button assembly, the button and the carrier have been moved toward one another along the final assembly direction in order to latch the pin element into the pin receptacle.

The support-side mounting slope is designed to slide along the pre-assembly direction on the inner surface of the button, for example by arranging the support-side mounting slope according to the pre-assembly direction. In particular, the mounting bevel on the carrier side tapers the carrier in an area in which the pin element engages in the button during pre-assembly. For example, the carrier is tapered by the mounting bevel on the carrier side on the journal element. In other words, the final assembly direction of the button and a pitch triangle of the carrier-side mounting bevel are arranged perpendicular to one another, with the pitch triangle characterizing the carrier-side mounting bevel.

In this way, a button assembly that can be mounted particularly easily and with little effort is provided. This results in a drop arm that is particularly easy to assemble and has the button assembly. Due to the arrangement of the carrier-side mounting bevel, the pre-assembly direction of the pushbutton assembly and an actuation direction of the pushbutton diverge. The final assembly direction of the button and the direction of actuation of the button are, in particular, parallel to one another. The button is held particularly securely on the carrier due to the fastening device. In this case, particularly large holding surfaces are formed in an advantageous manner, via which the spigot element and the spigot receptacle rest against one another over a large area. Furthermore, an unintentional separation of the button from the carrier is prevented in an advantageous manner, since the mounting bevel of the carrier element and the actuating direction or final assembly direction of the button are arranged parallel to one another. In other words, the carrier element does not taper or/or expand along the actuation direction or final assembly direction of the pushbutton due to the mounting bevels, but rather along the pre-assembly direction. In the case of the button assembly, a particularly large amount of force must therefore be used in an advantageous manner in order to separate the button from the carrier.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the button assembly, the button is designed as a rocker switch. Consequently, the fastening device is designed as a swivel joint. As a result, the button as the rocker button is mounted pivotably in relation to the carrier by means of the fastening device or by means of the rotary joint. In this case, the spigot element and the spigot receptacle each have a circular-cylindrical shape. If the circular-cylindrical spigot element rests in the circular-cylindrical spigot socket, with the spigot element and the spigot socket being arranged coaxially, the rotary joint is formed by the circular-cylindrical spigot element and by the circular-cylindrical spigot socket. Because the rocker button is pivotably mounted on the carrier, in particular the carrier element, according to the above description, the rocker button is held particularly securely and stably in relation to the frame of the button assembly. Because of this, the button assembly, which has the rocker button, is particularly resistant to loads that occur when the button assembly is used.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the button assembly, the support-side mounting bevel is formed on the pin element. Thus, a lateral surface and/or a distal cover surface of the pin element has/has the mounting bevel on the carrier side. In other words, the distal cover surface and/or the lateral surface are/is formed at least partially by the mounting bevel. In an advantageous manner, the mounting bevel on the carrier side and the pin element are formed in one piece with one another. The mounting bevel is provided by an outer shape of the journal element. In this way, the carrier can be produced in a particularly material-efficient manner, since the spigot element does not have to be formed separately from the mounting bevel.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the button assembly, the inner surface of the button has a button-side mounting bevel. The mounting bevel on the button side and the mounting bevel on the carrier side are designed to slide off one another when the button assembly is preassembled. In other words, the button-side mounting bevel and the carrier-side mounting bevel slide on each other when the carrier and the frame are assembled along the pre-assembly direction. Such an interaction of the button-side mounting bevel and the support-side mounting bevel further supports or simplifies assembly or pre-assembly of the button assembly.

In this connection, it has also proven to be advantageous if—viewed in the pre-assembly direction—the inner surface of the button has a first clamping step for clamping the support element and a second clamping step for further clamping the support element. The first clamping stage is formed by the mounting slope on the button side. The second clamping step is formed by an inner surface portion of the button, this inner surface portion having the pin receptacle. In other words, the pin receptacle is formed in the inner surface portion. In particular, the pin receptacle is a hole that completely penetrates the inner surface portion of the button. As already explained above, the hole penetrating the inner surface portion, ie the pin receptacle, is of circular design when the button is held pivotably as the rocker button on the carrier or on the carrier element. Due to the gradual tensioning of the carrier element, the introduction of the carrier along the pre-assembly direction into the frame is particularly simple. Because a force that acts transversely to the pre-assembly direction when the carrier is inserted into the frame and drives the carrier away from the pre-assembly direction when the carrier is inserted into the frame is higher in the second clamping stage than in the first clamping stage. However, the second clamping stage is only present along a particularly short section, so that the high forces advantageously only have to be overcome or compensated for along this particularly short section.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the button assembly, the button has a pre-assembly unit on the button side, and the frame has a pre-assembly unit on the frame side. The button-side pre-assembly unit and the frame-side pre-assembly unit correspond to each other to form a pre-assembly device. As a result, the button and the frame can be held together in a pre-assembly position. To form the pre-assembly arrangement, the pre-assembly units interact with one another in a non-positive and/or positive manner. This means that when assembling the pre-assembly arrangement, in that the frame and the button are coupled to one another via the pre-assembly units, a frictional connection and/or a positive connection is formed between the button and the frame. As a result, the probe and the frame are fixed to each other as the pre-assembly structure. This results in the advantage that the pre-assembly arrangement can be handled or moved particularly easily, it being ensured that the button and the frame do not become detached from one another in an undesired manner.

The button-side pre-assembly unit preferably has a collar element. Here, the collar element jumps at two entge opposite ends of the button perpendicularly from an outer surface of the button. For example, the collar element has two collar bodies, of which one of the collar bodies protrudes from the outer surface at a first end of the button and the other collar body protrudes from the outer surface at a second end of the button. The button is supported on the frame via the collar element or the collar body in the pre-assembly position, that is to say when the pre-assembly arrangement is formed from the button and the frame. Here, the button extends through the button opening. In this way, the button hangs in the frame, so that it is ensured that the button does not fall out of the frame in an undesired manner.

In a further embodiment of the collar element, this completely surrounds a lower edge of the button. Both in the pre-assembly position and in a final assembled position of the button, ie when the button assembly is finally assembled, the collar element completely encompassing the lower edge of the button completely covers a gap between the frame and the button. Since the collar member is formed on the lower edge of the stylus, the collar member is formed on the mounting portion of the stylus. Because the fastening portion includes the lower edge. If the button is arranged in the button opening according to the pre-assembly position, the button is supported via the collar element on the inner surface of the frame, in particular held there. For example, the button hangs over the collar element on the inner surface of the frame. If the frame-side pre-assembly unit corresponds to the collar element, it can also be provided that the button is clamped or latched to the frame via the collar element in order to ensure a particularly reliable fit of the button in the frame or on the frame for the pre-assembly of the button assembly guarantee.

Furthermore, the collar element, which completely surrounds the lower edge of the button, has a dual functionality in this case. A first functionality of the collar element is the possibility of coupling the button to the frame in a non-positive and/or positive manner by means of the collar element, as a result of which the pre-assembly arrangement is formed. A second function of the collar element is to cover the gap between the frame and the button, which advantageously prevents objects, dirt, etc. from getting into an interior of the button assembly through the gap, ie past the button.

In connection with the pre-assembly unit, it has proven to be advantageous according to a further advantageous embodiment of the button assembly if the button-side pre-assembly unit forms a protective element against electrostatic discharge between an operator's body and an electronic device of the button assembly. This means that in this case the button-side pre-assembly unit, in particular the collar element completely encompassing the lower edge, has a further functionality, namely serves as a protective element against electrostatic discharge. Because a direct straight material-free connection between the electronic device and an area surrounding the button assembly is interrupted by the button-side pre-assembly unit, in particular the collar element, which advantageously at least hinders the occurrence of electrostatic discharge.

A protective labyrinth is advantageously formed by the button-side pre-assembly unit and the frame-side pre-assembly unit. A material-free connection between the surroundings of the button assembly and the electronic device is then curved and/or kinked several times due to the protective labyrinth, in particular by 90 degrees, which on the one hand prevents objects or dirt from falling into the interior of the button assembly and on the other hand the occurrence of the electrostatic discharge are prevented even more efficiently.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the button assembly, the carrier has a carrier-side locking element. Furthermore, the frame has a frame-side locking element. In this case, the locking element on the carrier side and the locking element on the frame side correspond to one another for the pre-assembly of the button assembly. The pre-assembly of the button assembly includes forming a locking device, wherein the carrier and the frame are locked together in a locking position. In the locking position, the spigot element and the spigot receptacle are arranged relative to one another along the common final assembly direction. In other words, the carrier and the frame for preassembling the button assembly can be moved towards one another due to the locking device or due to the locking elements until the pin element and the pin receptacle are arranged along the common final assembly direction. It is provided that the locking device acts in a non-positive and/or positive manner, the locking device preventing the carrier and the frame from being moved away from one another again once the spigot element and the spigot receptacle are arranged along the common final assembly direction. Alternatively or additionally, the locking device can be used to prevent the carrier and the frame from being moved further towards one another when the spigot element and the spigot receptacle are arranged along the common final assembly direction. In other words, the locking device blocks the carrier from being pulled out of the frame and/or from being pushed in further into the frame. This makes it particularly easy to assemble the carrier with the frame along the pre-assembly direction. This applies in an analogous manner to the assembly of the carrier with the pre-assembly arrangement, the pre-assembly arrangement having the frame and the button.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for assembling a button assembly designed in accordance with the above description. Here, a button is placed in a pre-assembly position on a frame. This means that a pre-assembly arrangement is formed from the button and the frame. In this case, the button extends through a button opening formed in the frame.

In the method for assembling the button assembly, a carrier and the pre-assembly arrangement are moved towards one another along a common pre-assembly direction. As a result, a mounting bevel formed on a carrier element of the carrier and an inner surface of the button slide off one another. As a result, the carrier element is stretched. In other words, the carrier element is tensioned by the mounting bevel of the carrier element sliding on the inner surface of the button. The carrier and/or the pre-assembly arrangement is/are moved until a pin element of the carrier and a pin receptacle of the button are arranged along a common final assembly direction.

If the spigot element and the spigot receptacle are arranged relative to one another along the common final assembly direction, the button and the carrier are moved towards one another along the final assembly direction. For example, the button is pressed towards the carrier in relation to the latter. As a result, the spigot element snaps into place in the spigot socket while the carrier element is relaxed, so that the spigot element and the spigot socket are arranged coaxially to one another. Before the spigot element snaps into the spigot socket, the spigot element slides on the inner surface of the button until the spigot element reaches the spigot socket and finally snaps into it.

In this way, in particular, a fastening device connecting the carrier and the button is formed between the button and the carrier. The fastening device is formed by the spigot element snapping into the spigot socket. When forming the pre-assembly arrangement, i.e. when the button is arranged in the pre-assembly position on the frame, an actuating portion of the button on the one hand projects beyond an outer surface of the frame, with a fastening portion of the button on the other hand projecting beyond an inner surface of the frame. Here, the outer surface and the inner surface of the frame are opposed to each other.

The method makes it particularly easy to assemble a button assembly and, as a result, a steering column arm for a motor vehicle.

The invention also includes developments of the method according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the button assembly according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a drop arm for a motor vehicle is proposed. The steering column arm has a button assembly designed according to the above description. It is envisaged that the steering column arm can be produced by first providing a steering column arm body which is assembled with the fully assembled button assembly. A particularly reliable and easily mountable steering column arm is provided by the particularly reliable and easily mountable button assembly.

The invention also includes developments of the drop arm according to the invention, which have features as have already been described in connection with the developments of the method according to the invention and/or the button assembly according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding developments of the steering column arm according to the invention are not presented again here.

The invention also includes the combination of the features of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Lenkstockhebels für ein Kraftfahrzeug;
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Tasters, welcher als ein Wipptaster ausgebildet ist;
• 3 eine perspektivische Teilansicht eines Trägers;
• 4 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Rahmens;
• 5 eine Seitenansicht einer Vormontageanordnung, wobei der Rahmen und der Taster in einer Vormontageposition aneinander angeordnet sind;
• 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausgestaltung des Tasters bzw. Wipptasters;
• 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Vormontageanordnung, wobei der Träger und die Vormontageanordnung zusammengesetzt werden;
• 8 eine teilweise Seitenansicht der Vormontageanordnung und des Trägers, wobei der Träger in den Rahmen eingesetzt ist und zum finalen Montieren einer Tasterbaugruppe der Taster und der Träger miteinander verrastet werden;
• 9 eine perspektivische und geschnittene Teilansicht eines Drehgelenks, mittels dessen der Taster und der Träger miteinander verbunden sind;
• 10 eine geschnittene Teilansicht der Tasterbaugruppe;
• 11 eine perspektivische Teilansicht eines Lenkstockhebelkörpers, wobei die Tasterbaugruppe in den Lenkstockhebelkörper eingesetzt wird; und
• 12 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines gemäß dem Stand der Technik ausgebildeten Lenkstockhebels, wobei ein herkömmlicher Taster auf herkömmlichem Wege eingebaut wird.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. It shows:

• 1 a perspective view of a steering column arm for a motor vehicle;
• 2 a perspective view of a button, which is designed as a rocker switch;
• 3 a partial perspective view of a carrier;
• 4 a perspective view of a frame;
• 5 a side view of a pre-assembly arrangement, wherein the frame and the button are arranged together in a pre-assembly position;
• 6 a perspective view of a further embodiment of the button or rocker switch;
• 7 a perspective view of the pre-assembly assembly, wherein the carrier and the pre-assembly assembly are assembled;
• 8th a partial side view of the pre-assembly arrangement and the carrier, the carrier being inserted into the frame and the button and the carrier being latched together for the final assembly of a button assembly;
• 9 a perspective and sectional partial view of a rotary joint, by means of which the button and the carrier are connected to each other;
• 10 a sectional partial view of the button assembly;
• 11 a perspective partial view of a pitman arm body, wherein the button assembly is used in the pitman arm body; and
• 12 a perspective view of a trained according to the prior art drop arm, wherein a conventional button is installed in a conventional way.

Elements that are the same or have the same function are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In the following, a button assembly 1, a drop arm 2 and a method for manufacturing the button assembly 1 are written together.

1 shows a perspective view of the steering column arm 2 for a motor vehicle. The drop arm 2 has a drop arm body 3 which is connected to the button assembly 1 . In other words, the button assembly 1 is built into the drop arm body 3 . As a result, the drop arm 2 is formed. The button assembly 1 has a button 4 and a frame 5, wherein the button 4 and the frame 5 will be described in more detail. In the present example, the button 4 is designed as a rocker switch.

2 shows the button 4 or rocker switch in a perspective view, the button 4 having an actuating portion 6 and a fastening portion 7 . The button 4 is formed by the actuating part 6 and the fastening part 7, with the actuating part 6 and fastening part 7 being formed in one piece with one another. The button 4 is formed by forming the actuating portion 6 in one piece with the fastening portion 7 . The button 4 also has a pin receptacle 8 which is formed centrally on/in the button 4 along a longitudinal extension of the button 4 . The pin receptacle 8 is a through hole that completely penetrates a wall 9 of the button 4 . In the present example, the button 4 has a pin receptacle 8 on both sides. An interior 10 of the button is formed between the opposite walls 9 of the button 4 . The interior 10 is a material-free space of the button 4. A pivot axis 11 of the button 4 is defined by the pin receptacles 8 directly opposite one another, with a respective longitudinal center axis of the pin receptacles 8 and the pivot axis 11 of the button 4 coinciding. The pivot axis 11 of the button 4 is intersected perpendicularly by a vertical axis 12 of the button 4 . At a first end 13 of the button 4, a first collar body 14 is formed. The first end 13 of the button 4 is another end 15 of the button 4 opposite. A further collar body 16 is formed at the second end 15 . The collar bodies 14, 16 are part of a collar element 17. Here, the collar element 17 protrudes perpendicularly from an outer surface 18 of the button 4. Consequently, the collar bodies 14, 16 protrude from the outer surface 18.

An inner surface 19 of the button 4 has a mounting bevel 20 . As in 1 can be seen, the button 4 in the present example on two opposing mounting slopes 20 which face each other. This means that both mounting bevels 20 face the interior 10 of the button 4 . For the further description of the button assembly 1, reference is made to a pre-assembly direction 21, which is shown in 1 is also shown. Along the pre-assembly direction 21, the button 4 has a first clamping stage 22 in the interior 10 or on the inner surface 19, the first clamping stage 22 being formed by the mounting bevel 20 on the button side. The button 4 also has a second clamping step 23, the second clamping step 23 being formed by an inner surface portion 19a of the button 4. Here, the inner surface portion 19a having the second clamping stage 23 is arranged obliquely to the button-side mounting slope 20 or to the first clamping stage 22. The inner surface portion 19a is a straight or planar inner surface portion of the inner surface 19 of the button 4, with the straight inner surface portion 19a and the vertical axis 12 are arranged parallel to each other. In contrast, the respective button-side mounting bevel 20 is arranged obliquely in relation to the vertical axis 12 . The mounting slope 20 on the button side is also arranged parallel to the pre-mounting direction 21 . The inner surface portion 19a, which has or forms the second clamping step 23, is completely penetrated by the pin receptacle 8. In other words, this inner surface portion 19a has the respective pin receptacle 8 .

3 shows a perspective partial view of a carrier 24, the carrier 24 having a non-destructive, reversible tensionable carrier element 25. For better orientation is in 3 also the pre-assembly direction 21 located. It is in 3 Furthermore, it can be seen that the carrier 24 in the present case has two carrier elements 25 lying opposite one another. In this case, the carrier elements 25 are spaced apart from one another by a distance which corresponds to a distance by which the opposing walls 9 of the button 4 are spaced apart from one another. A respective pin element 26 is arranged on the respective carrier element 25 . The respective pin element 26 corresponds to an associated one of the pin receptacles 8. In the present case, both the pin elements 26 and the pin receptacles 8 each have a circular-cylindrical shape. In this case, a respective outer diameter of the respective spigot element 26 and the respective spigot receptacle 8 correspond to one another, so that the spigot elements 26 can be arranged coaxially in the trunnion receptacles 8 . In other words, the pivot axis 11 of the pin receptacles 8 and a pivot axis 27 of the pin elements 26 coincide in a finally assembled state of the button assembly 1 . This means that the respective pin element 26 and the respective pin receptacle 8 correspond to one another.

The respective carrier element 25 has a mounting bevel 28 on the carrier side. This means that the respective carrier-side mounting bevel 28 is arranged on the respective carrier element 25 . In the present case, the mounting bevel 28 on the carrier side is formed directly on the respective pin element 26 . This means that the respective pin element 26 has a respective mounting bevel 28 on the carrier side. The respective mounting slope 28 on the carrier side is arranged at an angle to the pre-assembly direction 21 . Furthermore, the respective carrier-side mounting bevel 28 is arranged at an angle to the pivot axis 27 of the carrier 24 . In addition, the respective support-side mounting bevel 28 is arranged parallel to a vertical axis 29 of the support 24 .

An imaginary gradient triangle 30 is introduced for a better understanding of the position of the respective mounting bevel 28 on the carrier side. The imaginary pitch triangle 30 is two-dimensional, so that the hypotenuse and the legs are arranged in a common plane. In this case, the imaginary pitch triangle 30 is arranged perpendicular to the vertical axis 29 of the carrier 24 . Furthermore, the imaginary gradient triangle 30 is arranged perpendicular to a final assembly direction 31, which is described in more detail below. As a result, the vertical axis 29 of the carrier 24 and the final assembly direction 31 are parallel to one another, in particular the vertical axis 29 of the carrier 24 and the final assembly direction 31 coincide.

Viewed in the pre-assembly direction 21, a distance between the mutually opposite pin elements 26 narrows due to the mounting bevels 28 on the carrier side.

4 shows the frame 5 in a perspective view, which has a circular ring-cylindrical section 33 and a further section 34 . In the further section 34 a button opening 35 is formed. Here, the button opening 35 completely pierces a material of the frame 5 on the further section 34 . This means that the button opening 35 is a material-free area of the frame 5, in particular of the section 34. A peripheral contour 36 of the button opening 35 and the outer surface 18 of the button 4 correspond to one another, so that the button 4 can be inserted or inserted into the button opening 35 . A longitudinal central axis 37 of the frame 5 and the pre-assembly direction 21 are parallel to one another, in particular coincide with one another.

To assemble the button assembly 1, a pre-assembly assembly 38 is first formed. The pre-assembly arrangement 38 is shown in side view in FIG 5 shown. The pre-assembly arrangement 38 has the button 4 and the frame 5 . This means that the button 4 and the frame 5 are assembled to form the pre-assembly arrangement 38 . Here, the frame 5 and the button 4 are arranged in a pre-assembly position. In the pre-assembly position or in the case of the pre-assembly arrangement 38 , the button 4 is arranged in the button opening 35 . In the present case, the button 4 hangs on an inner surface 39 of the frame 5 by means of the collar element 17, i.e. by means of the collar bodies 14, 16 (see FIG 4 ). Here, the button 4 extends from an inner side 40 of the frame 5 through the button opening 35 through to an outer side 41 of the frame 5, with both the Actuation part 6 of the button 4 and the fastening part 7 of the button 4 protrude beyond an outer surface 42 of the frame 5 . this is in 5 can be seen particularly well, since the pin receptacles 8 protrude beyond the outer surface 42 of the frame 5 when the pre-assembly arrangement 38 is formed from the frame 5 and the button 4 .

Furthermore, in the case of the pre-assembly arrangement 38 , the fastening portion 7 is arranged partially on the inside 40 of the frame 5 . To insert the button 4 into the frame 5, i.e. to form the pre-assembly arrangement 38, the button 4 is inserted along the vertical axis 12 of the button 4 into the button opening 35 of the frame 5 until the button 4 protrudes over the collar element 17 on the inner surface 39 of the frame 5 comes to concern.

To form the pre-assembly arrangement 38 , in the present example the button 4 has a pre-assembled unit 43 on the button side, with the frame 5 having a pre-assembled unit 44 on the frame. In the present case, the button-side pre-assembly unit 43 is formed by the collar element 17 . Furthermore, the frame-side pre-assembly unit 44 is formed by the inner surface 39 of the frame 5 . The pre-assembly units 43, 44 correspond to one another since the collar element 17 and the inner surface 39 of the frame 5 correspond to one another. As a result, the button 4 and frame 5 can be held in the pre-assembly position via the pre-assembly units 43, 44. This means that the pre-assembly units 43, 44 to form the pre-assembly arrangement 38 correspond to one another. With the interaction of the pre-assembly units 43, 44, a pre-assembly device is formed, via which the button 4 and the frame 5 are held together in the pre-assembly position.

6 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the button 4 or the rocker button. Here, the collar element 17 completely encloses a lower edge 45 of the button 4 . Since the collar element 17 completely encompasses the lower edge 45 of the button 4 or rocker button, the button 4 is held particularly reliably in the button opening 35 in the pre-assembly arrangement 38 in that the button 4 is supported over a particularly large area by means of the collar element 17 on the inner surface 39 of the frame 5 is.

7 12 shows a perspective view of the pre-assembly arrangement 38, with the carrier 24 and the pre-assembly arrangement 38 being assembled. In the view of 7 the carrier elements 25 of the carrier 24 can be seen, to which the pin elements 26 together with the mounting bevels 28 on the carrier side are attached. The carrier 24 and the pre-assembly arrangement 38 are arranged relative to one another on the longitudinal central axis 37 of the frame 5 so that the carrier 24 can be guided through the annular-cylindrical section 33 of the frame 5 . Then the carrier 24 and the pre-assembly arrangement 38 are moved towards one another along the common pre-assembly direction 21 . The carrier-side mounting bevel 28 is designed to slide off the inner surface 19 of the button 4 for the pre-assembly of the button assembly 1 while the reversibly non-destructively clampable carrier elements 25 are clamped, the button 4 being held in/on the frame 5 in the pre-assembly position. When preassembling the button assembly 1, the support-side mounting slope 28 meets the inner surface 19 of the button 4, in particular first on a region of the inner surface 19 in which the button-side mounting slope 20 and consequently the first clamping stage 22 is arranged. This means that when the carrier 24 is pushed in along the pre-assembly direction 21 into the pre-assembly arrangement 38, the carrier elements 25 of the carrier 24 are clamped towards one another by the pin elements 26 sliding over the carrier-side mounting bevels 28 on the button-side mounting bevels 20.

When the carrier 24 moves further along the pre-assembly direction 21 into the circular ring-cylindrical section 33 of the frame 5 or through the circular ring-cylindrical section 33, the mounting bevels 28 on the carrier side meet the second clamping stage 23 of the button 4, i.e. the inner surface portion 19a. As a result, the support elements 25 are further tensioned towards one another, in that the pin elements 26 slide over the support-side mounting bevels 28 on the inner surface portion 19a. The pre-assembly arrangement 38 and the carrier 24 are moved towards one another along the pre-assembly direction 21 until the vertical axis 12 of the button 4 and the vertical axis 29 of the carrier 24 coincide. As soon as the vertical axes 12, 29 coincide, the spigot receptacles 8 and the spigot elements 26 are arranged along the common final assembly direction 31. In order to prevent the carrier 24 and the pre-assembly arrangement 38 from being moved too far towards one another or not being moved far enough towards one another, the carrier 24 has a carrier-side locking element 46, the frame 5 and consequently the pre-assembly arrangement 38 having a frame-side locking element 47. The locking elements 46, 47 correspond to form a locking device 48 (see 8th ), wherein the locking device 48 is designed to block disengagement of the carrier 24 in relation to the pre-assembly arrangement 38 when the vertical axes 12, 29 have collapsed. In other words, the locking device 48 at for example by means of locking of the locking elements 46, 47, closed as soon as the respective pin element 26 and the respective pin receptacle 8 are arranged along the common final assembly direction 31.

8th shows a partial side view of the pre-assembly arrangement 38 and the carrier 24, the carrier 24 being inserted into the frame 5 and the button 4 or rocker switch and the carrier 24 being latched together for the final assembly of the button assembly 1. For this purpose, the carrier 24 and the button 4 or rocker button are moved towards one another along the coincident vertical axes 12, 29, i.e. in the final assembly direction 31, as a result of which the pin elements 26 latch coaxially into the respective associated pin receptacle 8 while the respective carrier element 25 is relaxed. Here, the fastening part 7 of the button 4 is moved further in the direction towards the inside 40 of the frame 5, so that the button 4 is arranged in the button opening 35 when the button assembly 1 is finally assembled, with the button 4 or rocker button and the carrier 24 being fastened to one another are. The button 4 and the carrier 24 are fastened to one another in that the respective spigot element 26 engages in the corresponding spigot socket 8, with the spigot element 26 and the spigot socket 8 being arranged coaxially with one another. In other words, the pivot axis 11 of the button 4 and the pivot axis 27 of the carrier 24 coincide. Since both the respective spigot element 26 and the respective spigot receptacle 8 are formed in accordance with a right circular cylinder, a rotary joint 49 educated. An axis of rotation of the rotary joint is formed by the pin elements 26 and pin receptacles 8 arranged coaxially to one another. By means of the rotary joint 49, that is to say by means of the pin elements 26 and the pin receptacles 8, the button 4 is pivotably mounted as the rocker button in relation to the carrier 24 and in relation to the frame 5. In this case, the button 4 or rocker switch can be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the rotary joint 49, that is to say about the pivot axis 11, 27.

9 shows the rotary joint 49, by means of which the button 4 and the carrier 24 are connected to one another, in a perspective and sectional partial view. In 9 It is also particularly easy to see that the pin element 26 is encompassed by the pin receptacle 8 over a particularly large area, resulting in a particularly stable and reliable seating of the pin elements 26 in the pin receptacles 8 . The button 4 or rocker button is advantageously prevented from being pulled out of the button assembly 1 in the opposite direction to the final assembly direction 31 , since there are no bevels in the opposite direction to the final assembly direction 31 that would encourage the button 4 to be pulled out of the button assembly 1 .

10 shows a sectional partial view of the button assembly 1, wherein the lower edge 45 of the button 4 is arranged parallel to the plane of the drawing. The button assembly 1 is in 10 shown in the final assembled state, that is, the button 4 has been moved along the final assembly direction 31 in the direction towards the carrier 24 until the pin elements 26 have snapped into the pin receptacles 8 . It can be seen particularly well here that the mounting bevels 28 on the carrier side affect less than half the diameter of the respective pin element 26 . In this way, the respective pin element 26 is particularly stable, as a result of which a particularly permissible seating of the button 4 on the carrier 24 is ensured.

11 shows the steering column arm body 3 in a perspective partial view, the button assembly 1 being inserted into the steering column arm body 3 . For this purpose, the button assembly 1 is or will be finally assembled as described above. In 11 a gap 50 can be seen between the button opening 35 and the button 4 or rocker button, with the gap 50 being completely covered by the collar element 17 of the button 4 in the present example. This is because the collar element 17 of the button 4 is arranged on the inside 40 of the frame 5 or on the inner surface 39 of the frame 5 and protrudes perpendicularly from the outer surface 18 of the button 4 . Here, the collar element 17 protrudes at least so far from the outer surface 18 of the button 4 that the gap 50 is covered. In this way, the collar element 17, ie the button-side pre-assembly unit 43, forms a protective element, for example against electrostatic discharge between an operator's body and an electronic device of the button assembly 1. The operator's body is, for example, a finger of a human operator.

The protective element, which is formed by the button-side pre-assembly unit 43 or by the collar element 17, is also designed in the present example to prevent the ingress of objects, dirt, etc. past the button 4 or rocker switch through the button opening 35, to prevent. In addition, the button assembly 1 and, as a result, the steering column arm 2 have a particularly pleasing appearance when the collar element 17 prevents a view through the gap 50 . The collar element 17 and the section 34 of the frame 5, in which the button opening 35 is formed, act together in a particularly preferred manner as a kind of labyrinth seal, so that a protective labyrinth is formed by the button-side pre-assembly unit 43 in conjunction with the frame 5 .

In 11 it can also be seen how the finally mounted button assembly 1 is inserted into the drop arm body 3, for example pushed in. If the button assembly 1 is coupled or connected to the steering column arm body 3 as intended, the steering column arm 2 (see 1 ) educated.

Claims (13)

Button assembly (1) for a drop arm (2), the button assembly (1) having: - a button (4) with a pin receptacle (8); - A carrier (24) which has a non-destructive, reversibly tensionable carrier element (25) on which a pin element (26) is arranged, the pin element (26) and the pin receptacle (8) corresponding to one another; - A frame (5) arranged on the carrier (24) and having a button opening (35), the frame (5) enclosing the carrier (24); and the button (4) is arranged in the button opening (35), the button (4) and the carrier (24) being fixed to one another by the spigot element (26) being snapped into the spigot receptacle (8) in a final assembly position, thereby characterized in that the frame (5) can be pushed onto the carrier (24) in a pre-assembly direction (21) for pre-assembling the button assembly (1), the button (4) being held in the button opening (35) during pre-assembly, and the The button (4) can be moved in a final assembly direction (31) to reach the final assembly position, a mounting bevel (28) on the carrier side being arranged on the carrier element (25), the mounting bevel (28) on the carrier side being set up for pre-assembling the button assembly (1 ) to slide off under tensioning of the carrier element (25) along the pre-assembly direction (21) on an inner surface (19, 19a) of the button (4) held on the frame (5), and wherein the final assembly direction (31) of the button (4) se runs perpendicular to the pre-assembly direction (21). Button assembly (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the button (4) is designed as a rocker button and a rotary joint (49) is formed by the pin element (26) latched into the pin receptacle (8), so that the button (4) as the rocker button in relation to the Carrier (24) is pivotally mounted. Button assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the carrier-side mounting bevel (28) is formed on the pin element (26). Button assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner surface (19, 19a) of the button (4) has a button-side mounting bevel (20), the button-side mounting bevel (20) and the carrier-side mounting bevel (28) being designed for this purpose are to slide off each other when pre-assembling the button assembly (1). Button assembly (1) according to claim 4 , characterized in that the inner surface (19) of the button (4) in the pre-assembly direction (21) has a first clamping stage (22) for clamping the carrier element (25) and a second clamping stage (23) for further clamping the carrier element (25), wherein the first clamping stage (22) is formed by the mounting bevel (20) on the button side, and the second clamping stage (23) is formed by an inner surface portion (19a) of the button (4), this inner surface portion (19a) having the pin receptacle (8). . Button assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the button (4) has a button-side pre-assembly unit (43) and the frame (5) has a frame-side pre-assembly unit (44), the pre-assembly units (43, 44) for forming a pre-assembly device correspond to each other, so that the button (4) and the frame (5) can be held together in a pre-assembly position. Button assembly (1) according to claim 6 , characterized in that the button-side pre-assembly unit (43) has a collar element (17), the collar element (17) at two opposite ends (13, 15) of the button (4) from an outer surface (18) of the button (4) protrudes vertically. Button assembly (1) according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the collar element (17) completely surrounds a lower edge (45) of the button (4) and on the inner surface (39) of the frame (5) has a gap (50) between the frame (5) and the button (4) completely hidden. Button assembly (1) according to one of Claims 6 until 8th , characterized in that a protective element against electrostatic discharge between an operator's body and an electronic device of the button assembly (1) is formed by the button-side pre-assembly unit (43). Button assembly (1) according to one of Claims 6 until 9 , characterized in that a protective labyrinth is formed by the button-side pre-assembly unit (43) and the frame-side pre-assembly unit (44). Button assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (24) has a carrier-side locking element (46) and the frame (5) has a frame-side locking element (47), the locking elements (46, 47) for the Pre-assembly of the button assembly (1) to form a locking device (48) correspond to each other, so that the carrier (24) and the frame (5) are locked together in a locking position, whereby the pin element (26) and the pin receptacle (8) along the common Final assembly direction (31) are arranged. Method for assembling a button assembly (1) designed according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - A button (4) is arranged in a pre-assembly position on a frame (5), so that the button (4) extends through a button opening (35) formed in the frame (5), with a button (4) and the frame ( 5) forming a comprehensive subassembly assembly (38); - a carrier (24) and the pre-assembly arrangement (38) are moved towards one another along a common pre-assembly direction (21), whereby a mounting bevel (28) formed on a non-destructively reversibly tensionable carrier element (25) of the carrier (24) and an inner surface (19 , 19a) of the tracer (4) slide against each other so that the carrier element (25) is tensioned, and the movement takes place until a pin element (26) of the carrier (24) and a pin receptacle (8) of the tracer (4) are arranged along a common final assembly direction (31); and - the button (4) and the carrier (24) are moved towards one another along the final assembly direction (31) and perpendicularly to the pre-assembly direction (21), as a result of which the pin element (26) moves into the pin receptacle (8) while the carrier element (25) is relaxed snaps. Steering column arm (2) for a motor vehicle with a according to one of Claims 1 until 11 trained button assembly (1).

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